Mine-cable-cutting mechanism.



1. E. JOHANNESSEN af 0. A. WAIGEQ MINE CABLE CUTTING VNlECIIMIIISII'I.'

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1917.

Paten p1-.'23 1918.

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JOHAN n. aonaNNnssnN, on saOOKLYN, AND o snoaNn a. wanen, or Nnw Yoan, N. Y., nssIoNOns on ONE-THIRD fro Duran w. rLrN'r, or rnovIDnNcn, RHODE IsLAND.

MINE-CABLE-CUTTING MECHANISM.

incassa.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr.. 23, 191%.,

Application led February 23, 1917. Serial No. 150448.

To all Lo/wm t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHAN E. JOHAN- NnssnN, a citizen oi the United States, and Osnonnn A. ithaca, a subject of the King of Norway, and residents of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, and New York city, in the county of Kings and Stat-e ot New York, respectively, have invented cert-ain new and useful lmprovements in.

i'urther object of this invention toV provide search lights or illuminating devices in the cable guiding means for illuminating the water ahead of the vessel so that the mines and their cables may be more readily located. Y

The invention further consists in the provision of means whereby` the mine cutting apparatus may be detachably connected to the bow of the vessel if desired vso that the same may be removed when not required. Y

lilith these and other Objects in view, the invention consists'of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation partly in section showing the forward end of a submarine vessel and illustrating my improved cable shearing apparatus attached to the bow thereof.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a portion of the bow of the vessel in section and my improved apparatus connected thereto.

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of the cutting shears showing the crank action by which one is reciprocated.

Fig. L is an enlarged view of'a portion of one of the guide arms showing the electric search light in the end thereof.

Referring to the drawings. 10 designates the hull of the vessel, that herein illustrated being of the submarine type.

The frame l2 which is provided for carry ing the mine cable cutting apparatus, is preferably made in a hollow shell form adapted to be bolted at 13 and 11i on either side of the bow, and also at l5 and 1G near the stem, whereby this frame is securely attached in position to the vessel. rllhe outer end of this frame comprises two diverging arms 17 and 18 forming an open mouth-shaped device for engaging the vertically disposed anchoring cables and conducting them to the cutters presently described.

The outer ends 19 and 20 of these arms are provided with lenses 2l through which light is thrown ahead by `suitable electric lamps into the water to illuminate the same for adistance in iront of the ship, so that the mines and their anchoring cables may be readily located and the ship guided to en gage these cables between the extending arms. Y

Located at the junction of these two arms is a ixed cutter blade 22 bolted to the frame 12, and sliding upon this fixed blade and cooperating therewith is the movable cutting blade 23 which is connected by a strap 24k to the crank 25, which crank is driven through the shaft 26.

This crank-shaft 26 is connected to the crank 25 and extends through the bearing 27 into the interior of the vessel. To the inner end of this shaft is connected a large gear 2S meshing with the small gear 29, the latter being driven by an electric motor whereby when this motor is energized the cutting blade 23 is caused to reciprocate rapidly and so caused to sever a cable or other object which may pass in between it and the fixed blade.

lnoperating our mine cable cutting apparatus, the operator stands in the room 31 at the bow of the ship and looks through the glass bulls-eye 32. The water in front of the ship is illuminated both by the lights 9,1 in the ends of the arms 17 and 18 and also by the search light 83, the operating handle 3d of which extends down into the hull within easy reach whereby the lamp may be moved .about in Order to throw the light in the direction desired. lf a mine cable is seen directly ahead it is engaged by the extending arms and guided between the blades oi' the continually*operating shears and severed releasing the mine Vwhichl at once Heats to the surface and is secured by another accompanying ship Vhen the mine is seen either to the right or to the left the direction at once coniinunicated by signal to the helinsnian Who guides the shipto engage the saine. Y

By bolting thefraine 12 to the ship the mine vcutting apparatus inay be removed when not required.; A

We have illustrated one means whereby our invention may be carried out but We do not Wish to limit ourselves to this specic construction as various changes in Y shape and forni of the several features may be necessary. life, therefore, desire it to be understood that We reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention 'being defined by the appended claims:

l; In a device of the character described, a frame fixed to the boiv of a'vessel, a pair of cable-cutting shears coniprising one ixed and one reciprocating` plate mounted in said frame, a crank sha-ft for voperating said `reciprocating plate extending Within the hull of the vessel, a motor Within the vessel Copies of `this patent may be obtained for geared to said shaft for actuating` said reciprocating shear plate, and a pair oi forwardly extending guiding arnis divcroing from said frame for engaging and leading to the shears the cable to be cut.

2. n a device 01"' the character described, a traine fixed to the bon' of a vessel, a pair of cable-cutting shears comprising one lixed and one reciprocating plate mounted in said frame, a crank shait for operating said reciprocating plate extending Within the hull of the vessel, a motor also within the hull geared. to said shaft for actuatingv said reciprocating shear plate, a pair olf forwardly extending guiding arins diverging freni said frame for engaging and leading to the shears the cable to be cut, and a search-light incased within the Walls oi the iiran'ie Worlr at the end of each arni for illuminating the water in advance of thc vessel.

In testiinon)y whereof We aiix our signatures in presence of a Witness.

JOHAN E. .TOHANNESS'EN- OSBORNE A. VAAGE.

fitness HOWARD E. BARLOW.

xive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

